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West Alabama returns to the new season as reigning Gulf South Conference champions for the first time since the 2014. The Tigers made a good run into the playoffs and have several starters back, some that are very experienced.
All-GSC and Harlon Hill Finalist QB Harry SatterwhiteQua Boyd and All-GSC selection Brandon Anderson (OL) along with Preseason All-GSC team member Call Dyer (C). Boyd had 52 receptions for 660 yards and four touchdowns last year.
While the UWA defense has some holes to fill, this side of the ball is anchored by two strong seniors in All-GSC players Darrius Ellis (DL) and Terry Samuel (LB), the 2017 GSC Defensive Player of the Year. Ellis led the GSC in tackles for loss in 2016 while Samuel was third in GSC with 102 total tackles last year. The Tigers added two senior DI transfers to shore up the defensive unit. They brought in Abraham Wallace (DB) from Texas Tech and Kirk Messick (LB) from Gardner-Webb.
The PRgos
The Argos of West Florida come into the 2018 season with a bit of swagger after plowing through the playoffs as road warriors before falling in the title game. Great press followed their Cinderella story as a fairytale unfolded in just their second season of competitive football.
UWF is young and, thus, returns a lot of guys. I mean, lots! One of the most visible returnees is standout QB Mike Beaudry, who was the GSC Freshman Offensive POY last season. He stablished school records for passing yards (3,215), passing TD (29), and wins as a starter. Beaudry will be joined by All-GSC wide receivers Antoine Griffin and Ishmel Morrow. Griffin ranked second in the GSC in receptions (63) and receiving yards (898) last season as Morrow is back after redshirting last year. In 2016, he led the Gulf South Conference with 1,035 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. The Argos also return an experienced line anchored by All-GSC tackle Samuel Antoine.
Their most improved squad last year was the defense and they have key players on this side of the ball coming back for 2018. Junior linebacker Andre Duncombe, Jr., an All-GSC selection, will be one of the leaders on this squad along with Preseason All-GSC selection senior Marvin Conley (DB). Duncombe had 60 total tackles last season with 12 tackles for loss while Conley had four interceptions returning two for touchdowns. The special teams will be anchored by All-GSC kicker Austin WilliamsDamarius Brinson (DB) from Northern Illinois and Hiram Velez (WR) from Troy will look to compete for starting jobs in their final season of college ball.
Something to Prove
The West Georgia Wolves are hungry. I can guarantee it. Last season ended on a down note after two losses to UWF in the last three weeks of the season. They were interrupted by a road win in the playoffs, which is the accomplishment the Wolves will hope to build on for this year.
On offense, UWG returns junior QB Willie Candler, who will now be taking snaps in his third season of GSC action. He has thrown a total of 3,662 yards for 35 touchdowns. Also returning on this side of the ball are multiple All-GSC senior selections Devontae Jackson, an all-purpose player, and Quentin Stanford, an offensive tackle. Jackson is a beast. A Harlon Hill finalist earning All-America honors in 2017, he has 4,506 all-purpose yards during his career. He was also the 2017 GSC Offensive POY.
The defensive unit returns All-GSC team members Montrell Pardue, a senior defensive back, and Chad Price, a junior lineman, along with Preseason All-GSC selection Korie Rogers, a junior linebacker. Pardue had 82 total tackles last season including 9.5 tackles for loss while Price had 42 total tackles and 7.5 sacks. Rogers racked up 75 total tackles last year.
Additions in the offseason included two transfers in junior Latrell Gibbs (DB) from Appalachian State and senior Malik Henry (WR) from Georgia Southern. Henry followed his old OC to Carrollton after leading the Eagles with 20 receptions on the season for a team-high 268 yards and a score last year.
Down on the Delta
The Statesmen are looking to build on the success of last season. Delta State was back in playoff form and got a win in the post-season. That was huge after the rough season in 2016.
One of the most exciting returning players, in my opinion, for the Statesmen is junior QB Breck RuddickInnis Claud V. DSU led the conference in rushing offense (228.7 ypg) behind his blocking in 2017.
The Statesmen defense will return seniors, All-GSC selection Ovenson Cledanord (LB) and Preseason All-GSC team member Tramond Lofton (DL). Cledanord was impressive in 2017 tallying 85 tackles with 13 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks while leading the conference with four forced fumbles. Lofton added 38 total tackles, 9 tackles for loss, and four sacks.
Joining DSU in the offseason were transfers including senior Donovan Carter (OL) from McNeese State and junior Brandon Rogers (WR) from Northwestern State.
Reigniting the FlameRogan Wells and Adam RoblesKenny Benjamin (AP) and senior Jeremy King (OG). Benjamin averaged 21.7 yards on kick returns last year.
On defense, the Blazers look to replace their top three tacklers from the 2017 campaign and will be anchored by Preseason All-GSC pick senior Raymond Palmer (DB). Palmer had 37 total tackles and an interception return for 39 yards last season. Valdosta also had two players named as Preseason All-GSC picks on Special Teams with sophomore Jairus Jones (BT) and senior Stewart Spence (UTL) named to the team.
In the offseason, VSU got several key pickups including senior DI transfers Rori Blair (DL) from Pittsburgh and LaVonne Gauthney (C) from Akron.
Post-Cato PanthersAntwuan Haynes. A multiple time All-GSC selection, he was second in the GSC during the regular season with 1,035 rushing yards and seven scores along with ranking fourth in the league with 110.5 all-purpose ypg. He will be joined by Preseason All-GSC pick Romell GuerrierAdonis Davis J.T. Hassell, who ranked fifth in the GSC with 78 total tackles.
Joining FIT in the offseason included transfers Max Linder (TE), a senior from Middle Tennessee State, and Damian McGee (WR), a junior from Presbyterian.
NKOTBWill Hunter. He finished last season with 2,051 yards passing and averaging 205 ypg while throwing for 14 touchdowns. In 2016, he passed for 3,035 yards and 23 touchdowns. Anchoring the defense will be Travis Beatty and Johnny Worthy as both had 61-tackles last season with Beatty leading the team with two interceptions.
The standout squad for the Crusaders may be Special Teams. They return two very capable kickers in placekicker Matt Gravely and punter Bobby Foos. Gravely was seven of 11 on kicks from 40-49 yards and a perfect on his two kicks of 50+, including a school-record 52-yarder against Lenoir-Rhyne. Foos finished the season with a 39.8-yard average but sailed five kicks of 50 or more yards and pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line sixteen times.
A Must Win Year
The Mississippi College Choctaws have been back in the division and conference for four full seasons now. They have won two games against D2 and GSC competition in that time, both over Shorter. They let a nail-bitter slip away to open the season at Clark-Atlanta last year and then barely escaped with a victory over the Hawks on Senior Day in Clinton.
Returning this fall on offense are senior running backs Tiberias Lampkin and Alizee Chubbs. Lampkin led the Choctaws with 648 rushing yards on 124 carries, scoring one touchdown last year while Chubbs was second on the team with 246 rushing yards, averaging 3.7 yards per carry. On the opposite side of the ball, look for senior linebacker Colton Magee to assume a leadership role. He finished third on the team with 45 tackles, including 29 solo stops in 2017. On Special Teams, senior return specialist Chakel Gates was named to the Preseason All-GSC squad. He led the team with 19 kick returns for 521 yards, averaging 27.4 yards per return last season.
Filling the gaps in the offseason, the Choctaws added two junior transfers from the Mississippi JUCO system. A junior, Detric Hawthorn (QB), joined the team from Jones County JC along with junior Turner Rotenberry (DB) from Northwest Miss. CC. Hawthorn passed for 724 yards and six touchdowns last season at Jones.
When In RomeLewis Hayes and sophomore defensive back Nehemiah Reddish will need to step up and pull this group together quickly in order to compete and revive this program. Hayes led the teams last season with 56 catches for 801 yards and four scores while averaging 72.82 ypg. Reddish was third on the team with 68 total tackles and eight pass breakups. Coming in during the offseason to shore up the offensive unit was sophomore transfer Noah Davenport (OL) from Limestone.
Are we ready? Andy Davis has followed GSC sports since 1985 and proudly covered the conference for D2Football.com since 2014. He is a past contributor to the D2 Football Preview, TimesDaily, and Franklin County Times as well as having appeared on ESPN Pensacola radio. Follow him on Facebook or Twitter.
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(Photo Courtesy NGU Athletics)